Applying for Oxbridge?

[kwsaint]

Out of interest, what did your A level and GCSE results look like? I'm thinking of applying myself and just wondered what I should aim for (obviously the best).

[Window Cleaner]

Out of interest, what did your A level and GCSE results look like? I'm thinking of applying myself and just wondered what I should aim for (obviously the best).

 

well I got 4As at A Level and a special paper in Physics but I still had to make do with Imperial. Mind you I didn't apply to Oxford, only Cambridge, don't think I was on song on interview day either. As for GCSE's I don't have a clue what those are. I'm one of those rare breed Taunton's system bods who have more A Levels than O Levels.

[saintbletch]

My son got 4 A* at A-level. Double maths, Physics and Economics. Got an offer from Pembroke College Cambridge to read Maths. But he didn't make the grade on the STEP entrance exam. He's now at Durham and loving it.

 

If you're studying Maths then your application and interview are important but unless you beat the rest of the excellent mathematicians on the STEP exam, who come from schools outside of the National Curriculum, then it counts for nothing.

[Tokyo-Saint]

I'm happy you are proud Dad. Honest.

[saintbletch]

I'm happy you are proud Dad. Honest.

 

My other son Toke. Not you.

[Tokyo-Saint]

Oh that B@stard? Never liked him... You always spent more time with him.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

You'll need straight A's, probably 4, but the biggest hurdle will be the interviews, and whether the feel you are a good fit for the University.

[Tokyo-Saint]

My other son Toke. Not you.

 

Not.......... leia?!?

[Turkish]

I went to Oxford. I found it easy to get into, smashed it at the meeting, spent the whole time strolling around unchallenged and generslly having quality, chiled out time. They were so pleased in fact that they even thanked me for coming by putting a sign up for me on the way out as I drove home saying thank you for coming.

[Whitey Grandad]

I went to Oxford. I found it easy to get into, smashed it at the meeting, spent the whole time strolling around unchallenged and generslly having quality, chiled out time. They were so pleased in fact that they even thanked me for coming by putting a sign up for me on the way out as I drove home saying thank you for coming.

Are you sure it wasn't 'thank you for leaving'?

 

I went to Cambridge to do engineering in 1968 but things were different then. The colleges were in different groups and Christ's only needed A-levels and an interview. Around that time you also needed 'Use of English' and a Latin O-level. I had 3 or 4 'A's in Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Further Maths, Physics with Physics Special and 9 various O-levels. That was 42 years ago so not much use to you now, I suppose. What subject and college are you interested in? I could always make some enquiries for you.

[Saintandy666]

I'm at Oxford at the moment. Got 3A's at A level(In Biology, Chemistry and Politics). 7A*'s 5A's and a B at GCSE. Had a year out after A Levels due to various reasons(not a gap yah!), was interviewed at Oxford and got unconditional. All the offers here are AAA or A*AA(never any lower than that). Generally speaking though, as long as you have that baseline level of GCSE's and A Levels(make sure you get it), Oxford don't care so much. They place a massive emphasis on their own admissions tests and especially interviews as the way of seeing how candidates think etc as opposed just to what they know.

 

If you want any help or whatever, just ask me on here or pm me or whatever

[View From The Top]

My sister turned down Oxford after going through the whole process on the grounds that she didn't like the vibe. She went to Exeter instead and did all of her post grads in at London.

[Saintandy666]

My sister turned down Oxford after going through the whole process on the grounds that she didn't like the vibe. She went to Exeter instead and did all of her post grads in at London.

 

When was that? And which college did she apply to at the time?

[ben05]

Out of interest, what did your A level and GCSE results look like? I'm thinking of applying myself and just wondered what I should aim for (obviously the best).

 

I got 6A*’s 5A’s at GCSE and 2A*’s 2 A’s at A-Level (Maths, further Maths, History and Geography) and I did STEP II.

Bottled Oxbridge – looked round oxford and just didn’t like it. (It was like stepping back into the medieval times) Looked round Christchurch, Jesus and another one. Got into Warwick for Maths (arguably harder to get an offer at Warwick than Oxford in terms of grades). A guy in my year that got roughly the same as me went for an interview and didn’t get in due to his “social skills”. That’s the way the cookie crumbles.

Been a year since I did my A- levels – I know that in 2011 oxford weren’t recognising A*’s. This might have changed though. For a solid offer you are looking to get A*AA or A*A*A depending on the courses ect. (Oh and no soft subjects!!!)

 

Good luck

[SNSUN]

I went to New College, and performed admirably for 5 years.

 

(Ok, it was New College School, I was a chorister, and by the time I was university age I had given up caring on academia and went out to get a job instead. I would have loved to have gone back to New College as an undergraduate though, but I was never clever or applied enough.) Incidentally, Turf Tavern is one of my favourite pubs in the country. (Right behind New College, although naturally I never had anything alcoholic at the age of 14. Honest.)

[Barry Sanchez]

I looked at this and thought what exactly can I bring to the table on this little question, well I have been to Oxford and Cambridge and I think Oxford has a better night out in my humble and they seem to have far more obedient spies there as well.

[Tokyo-Saint]

I drove through Oxford once, it seemed quite posh. If you like posh stuff and QI, I'd go for it.

[Saintandy666]

Yer, Oxford can seem quite intimidating at first. But tbh, once you are here it is entirely different to what to you expect. It's not snobby or anything like that at all, though I am at a supposedly very liberal college. I think like most things it is what you make of it.

 

And Oxford is definitely a good night out! Plenty of clubs, pubs, bars etc etc

[FloridaMarlin]

My son is at Oxford doing a Phd, albeit four year later than he should have been (the nitwit).

He had the qualifications to get a place at Oxford to do his degree, but like others on here, wasn't entirely comfortable with the Establishment nature and vibe of the place.

He got his BSc at York (a Russell group) uni and his Masters at Nottingham.

He then reaised that he owed it to himself (and his talents) to go to one of the best establishments.

Obviously, when it comes to PhDs we are talking research money (his field is genetics) and universities and Oxbridge Colleges roll out the red carpet to get researchers in, and the money they can bring in.

That meant he had several colleges and professors coming to him and pitching their wares, as opposed to the usual interview dynamic.

As somebody who was very anti-establishment four years years ago, he now realises the networking possibilities of going to Oxford.

I've mockingly called him a sell-out, but already he is realising that to get on you have to at least go along with the Establishment, even if you don't necessarily want to be part of it.

When he comes out in four years time with Dr before his name, and PhD (Oxon) after it he knows he can pretty much go anywhere and do anything he wants.

And if he looks the part in a white waistcoat and bowtie and sub fusc, even better.

[View From The Top]

When was that? And which college did she apply to at the time?

 

1989 & can't recall.

[Saintandy666]

1989 & can't recall.

 

Fair enough. From what I understand, Oxford have put in a massive effort in recent times to change things up in terms of attitude and feel around the place etc.

[shurlock]

Mate runs a college in Oxford- depends if you can deal with the claustrophobia for 3/4 years but that's also true of a lot of places e.g. Warwick.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Would have much preferred Oxbridge to Warwick, Warwick are a bunch or arrogant b*****ds.

 

Unfortunately neither Oxford or Cambridge did my course, and Warwick turned me down. Not that I'm bitter about it.

[tpbury]

This is why saintsweb is better than POL. How many Oxbridge can they muster? COYR!

[Saintandy666]

Mate runs a college in Oxford- depends if you can deal with the claustrophobia for 3/4 years but that's also true of a lot of places e.g. Warwick.

 

Runs it?! Which one???

[Window Cleaner]

Mate runs a college in Oxford- depends if you can deal with the claustrophobia for 3/4 years but that's also true of a lot of places e.g. Warwick.

 

what you mean he is Master,Regent,Provost,Dean or Bursar or just some non-academic administrator ?

Edited 29 November, 2012 by Window Cleaner

[alpine_saint]

My sister turned down Oxford after going through the whole process on the grounds that she didn't like the vibe. She went to Exeter instead and did all of her post grads in at London.

 

Respect to your sister.

 

I didnt even bother applying. I got the grades that were necessary back in the mid-80s when I left Richard Taunton College, but I was going through a big-league rebellious/get the f**k away from the parents as far as possible without falling off the edge of civilization aka Scotland vibe, so Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham were my application choices, ending up with Manchester.

[alpine_saint]

My son is at Oxford doing a Phd, albeit four year later than he should have been (the nitwit).

He had the qualifications to get a place at Oxford to do his degree, but like others on here, wasn't entirely comfortable with the Establishment nature and vibe of the place.

He got his BSc at York (a Russell group) uni and his Masters at Nottingham.

He then reaised that he owed it to himself (and his talents) to go to one of the best establishments.

Obviously, when it comes to PhDs we are talking research money (his field is genetics) and universities and Oxbridge Colleges roll out the red carpet to get researchers in, and the money they can bring in.

That meant he had several colleges and professors coming to him and pitching their wares, as opposed to the usual interview dynamic.

As somebody who was very anti-establishment four years years ago, he now realises the networking possibilities of going to Oxford.

I've mockingly called him a sell-out, but already he is realising that to get on you have to at least go along with the Establishment, even if you don't necessarily want to be part of it.

When he comes out in four years time with Dr before his name, and PhD (Oxon) after it he knows he can pretty much go anywhere and do anything he wants.

And if he looks the part in a white waistcoat and bowtie and sub fusc, even better.

 

Good post. If you are going to do serious PhD or post-grad research, Oxbridge and a couple of others are the only choices, since they get all the moolah. For under-grad and Masters levels, as long as the uni in question is a genuine red-brick and has a reputation for turning ou good graduates in your field, it doesnt matter which, so go for the one with the best nitelife and totty.

[Turkish]

Whilst there is still a lot of kudos associated with these univerisities, they and degrees as a whole have been devalued by the ease there is in getting one and the decline in standards of GCSE and A Level making to far easier to achieve the grades to get into these establishments than it was even as recently as 20 years ago.

[shurlock]

what you mean he is Master,Regent,Provost,Dean or Bursar or just some non-academic administrator ?

 

Principal (or in English, a glorified social worker)

[Window Cleaner]

Principal (or in English, a glorified social worker)

 

 

narrows it down to 16 colleges then

[View From The Top]

Whilst there is still a lot of kudos associated with these univerisities, they and degrees as a whole have been devalued by the ease there is in getting one and the decline in standards of GCSE and A Level making to far easier to achieve the grades to get into these establishments than it was even as recently as 20 years ago.

 

Wrong with regard to Oxbridge and the Russell Group universities. If anything they are now harder than ever to get into.

[Saintandy666]

Whilst there is still a lot of kudos associated with these univerisities, they and degrees as a whole have been devalued by the ease there is in getting one and the decline in standards of GCSE and A Level making to far easier to achieve the grades to get into these establishments than it was even as recently as 20 years ago.

 

It's actually getting far harder to get into Oxbridge. Since they started their proper drive into more deprived communities, applications have sky rocketed.

 

And whatever the standards of work at A Level, I don't really see how standards or at the very least the amount of work needing to be done could have dropped at all. The difference in work level is massive. I have 8 week terms(this is my last week), and I have already done 16 assignments(and each one takes a significant amount of time). For comparison, many of my friends are handing in their first essays this week/next week etc and they started a couple of weeks earlier than me.

[shurlock]

Runs it?! Which one???

 

Why who runs your place? I remember 'too much of an exact location to put in a public place'

The mongboard bends to reality but it does not break.

[Saintandy666]

Why who runs your place? I remember 'too much of an exact location to put in a public place'

The mongboard bends to reality but it does not break.

 

Touché!

[Barry Sanchez]

I dont think there can be any argument surely to say the education system now is worse than it was say 50years ago? I can not comment upon the entry into the Oxbridge Universities but I know a teacher and a head teacher and they say they teach nothing but ****wits and its easy to achieve top grades, I would like to see a youngster now do a Latin exam, he could not in all probability but that does not mean he could not.

Edited 29 November, 2012 by Barry Sanchez

[buctootim]

I dont think there can be any argument surely to say the education system now is worse than it was say 50years ago? I can not comment upon the entry into the Oxbridge Universities but I know a teacher and a head teacher and they say they teach nothing but ****wits and its easy to achieve top grades, I would like to see a youngster now do a Latin exam, he could not in all probability but that does not mean he could not.

 

Too easy

[Window Cleaner]

I dont think there can be any argument surely to say the education system now is worse than it was say 50years ago? I can not comment upon the entry into the Oxbridge Universities but I know a teacher and a head teacher and they say they teach nothing but ****wits and its easy to achieve top grades, I would like to see a youngster now do a Latin exam, he could not in all probability but that does not mean he could not.

 

 

both of my kids did Latin in their respective high schools, greek as well. You see it gets you bonus points for the baccalaureat, lets you slack in crap like philosophy. Because extra subjects like Greek and Latin don't count unless you get a better than average mark. Win win situation. As you get extra grant(or even a grant at all because the extra you get anyway even if your parents are well off) for a "très bien mention" and Latin and Greek are easy points it makes sense,even if you don't give a toss about those subjects. I had my Virgil out to help them, took me back to old Colebourne's classes in the dead of winter at Taunton's, aimlessly staring out over the playing fields watching the football games.

Edited 29 November, 2012 by Window Cleaner

[Saintandy666]

I dont think there can be any argument surely to say the education system now is worse than it was say 50years ago? I can not comment upon the entry into the Oxbridge Universities but I know a teacher and a head teacher and they say they teach nothing but ****wits and its easy to achieve top grades, I would like to see a youngster now do a Latin exam, he could not in all probability but that does not mean he could not.

 

I'm pretty sure most people I know could do a latin exam if we had had teaching in it in the lead up to the exam.

[Turkish]

It's actually getting far harder to get into Oxbridge. Since they started their proper drive into more deprived communities, applications have sky rocketed.

 

And whatever the standards of work at A Level, I don't really see how standards or at the very least the amount of work needing to be done could have dropped at all. The difference in work level is massive. I have 8 week terms(this is my last week), and I have already done 16 assignments(and each one takes a significant amount of time). For comparison, many of my friends are handing in their first essays this week/next week etc and they started a couple of weeks earlier than me.

 

You would say that though.

[Saintandy666]

You would say that though.

 

Well, what have I actually said that I 'would say'?

 

- More people are applying to Oxbridge per place. Which is true. http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/index.html - Applications have increased by 55% in the last ten years alone.

 

- There is a lot of work at Oxford.

[Turkish]

Well, what have I actually said that I 'would say'?

 

- More people are applying to Oxbridge per place. Which is true. http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/index.html - Applications have increased by 55% in the last ten years alone.

 

- There is a lot of work at Oxford.

 

Just proves how much more accessible it is now A levels and GCSEs are easier.

[Saintandy666]

Just proves how much more accessible it is now A levels and GCSEs are easier.

 

Not at all. Anyone can apply. 17,000 did in 2011. Yet, this is a dramatic increase in recent years. In 2007(and applications were lower then), over 27,000 people theretically had the grades to apply to oxbridge, but didn't. Now, of course, many won't choose to apply for whatever reasons, but a lot of the increase in application corresponds to the time in which the university has been doing a massive drive to encourage all types of people to apply. http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/undergraduate_admissions_statistics/2011_entry_figures/ethnic_origin.html

[shurlock]

Not at all. Anyone can apply. 17,000 did in 2011. Yet, this is a dramatic increase in recent years. In 2007(and applications were lower then), over 27,000 people theretically had the grades to apply to oxbridge, but didn't. Now, of course, many won't choose to apply for whatever reasons, but a lot of the increase in application corresponds to the time in which the university has been doing a massive drive to encourage all types of people to apply. http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/undergraduate_admissions_statistics/2011_entry_figures/ethnic_origin.html

 

Harder? The increase in applications isn't necessarily commensurate with a rise in quality -just look at the background of those who are ultimately accepted. Not much of a change there (not least because the usual suspects still have the resources and incentives to 'game' the system). Finally don't read too much into the outreach activity - much of it is low-level, thinly spread promotion by numbers.

Edited 29 November, 2012 by shurlock

[Saintandy666]

Harder? The increase in applications isn't necessarily commensurate with a rise in quality -just look at the background of those who are ultimately accepted. Not much of a change there (not least because the usual suspects still have the resources and incentives to 'game' the system). Finally don't read too much into the outreach activity - much of it is low-level, thinly spread promotion by numbers.

 

I was under the impression that state school acceptance had been rising year on year(though of course it is still too low). I think Oxford can only do so much though, you need to get in early to raise standards. Treat the problem, not the symptoms. Oh, and for context, I was local comprehensive.

[Deano6]

well I got 4As at A Level and a special paper in Physics but I still had to make do with Imperial. Mind you I didn't apply to Oxford, only Cambridge, don't think I was on song on interview day either. As for GCSE's I don't have a clue what those are. I'm one of those rare breed Taunton's system bods who have more A Levels than O Levels.

 

Wow, this could have been written by me almost exactly, except I did do GCSEs and went to KES.

[Turkish]

I was under the impression that state school acceptance had been rising year on year(though of course it is still too low). I think Oxford can only do so much though, you need to get in early to raise standards. Treat the problem, not the symptoms. Oh, and for context, I was local comprehensive.

 

In a white middle class area though wasn't it Andy, bet not many of your peers come from rough estates in London and Birmigham.

[Saintandy666]

In a white middle class area though wasn't it Andy, bet not many of your peers come from rough estates in London and Birmigham.

 

No, the majority don't. Though many do, and that just shows up the difference in opportunity between different classes and areas. And I quite agree that it is wrong.

 

Though, I owe my application success much more to my College, which was superb than to my Secondary School which was awful in many areas while I was there.

[shurlock]

I was under the impression that state school acceptance had been rising year on year(though of course it is still too low). I think Oxford can only do so much though, you need to get in early to raise standards. Treat the problem, not the symptoms. Oh, and for context, I was local comprehensive.

 

Depends on the definition of state school which has changed over time, making historical comparisons difficult.

But yes the numbers have been going up but not as quickly as admissions and they're still eye-poppingly small relative to the total state school population. And that sector itself is diverse: are those being accepted really from the most deprived schools or communities or just middle-class bastions?

All for treating symptoms, not causes. But colleges can definitely do more. The current combined spend of the university and colleges on outreach is £1.85 million, not a huge amount. My mate's place is one of the more liberal, accessible colleges in Oxford -yet they're still debating whether they have the money to employ a full-time, professional, decently remunerated Outreach Officer.

Edited 29 November, 2012 by shurlock

[Saintandy666]

Depends on the definition of state school which has changed over time, making historical comparisons difficult.

But yes the numbers have been going up but not as quickly as admissions and they're still eye-poppingly small relative to the total state school population. And that sector itself is diverse: are those being accepted really from the most deprived schools or communities or just middle-class bastions?

All for treating symptoms, not causes. But colleges can definitely do more. The current combined spend of the university and colleges on outreach is £1.85 million, not a huge amount. My mate's place is one of the more liberal, accessible colleges in Oxford -yet they're still debating whether they have the money to employ a full-time, professional, decently remunerated Outreach Officer.

 

I'm at one of the most liberal open-minded colleges too. We do seem to have lots of individual outreach programmes, but of course I have nothing to compare it to. I'll accept that Oxford can do more, but I think they are making increased effort. But I still think it comes down to schools as well, to give proper advice etc. It can be done, my college(as in 16-18, not oxford college!) had a great oxbridge programme. And in academic standards, you still have the fact the private school pupils receive more privileges and attention and so on, which is hard to remedy by Oxford colleges alone. I think it is 55% state school now for the uni, compared to 93% state school nationwide which is not good at all.